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BIG changes are underway at PMI!! Here is the TLDR version:

2. The 'PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct' has been updated

3. The PMP Exam will change in July of 2026

1. PMBOK 8th Edition 2025

Watch short video HERE

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)―Eighth Edition and The Standard for Project Management represents the most data-driven and community-informed update in the guide’s history.

🔍 𝗔 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹, 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁

The PMBOK 8th edition was built through four research phases involving thousands of practitioners worldwide:
- Qualitative sessions across seven countries.
- 3,400 responses to a survey about PMBOK 7.
- 9,000 public comments on the draft Guide during the first open consultation
- And 3,900 additional comments on the Standard second open consultation.

It is the most community-driven PMBOK ever produced.

1️⃣ 𝗣𝗠𝗕𝗢𝗞 𝟴 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗠𝗕𝗢𝗞 𝟳 - absolutely not a "rollback".

PMBOK 8 keeps the principles and performance domains foundation of 7 but simplifies and clarifies them to make them more actionable and avoid the somewhat confusing overlap of some of them. There is also a higher focus on value, sustainability, AI, and quality integration. It recognizes Project Success as when Value exceeds Effort and Expense.

2️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁-𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱

The five well-known process groups and 49 processes, were never gone but they had been debundled from PMBOK 7 and published separately. In 8, they are streamlined and embedded as flexible, non-prescriptive anchors that work across the continuum between predictive and Agile, and support the Performance Domains, making the articulation clearer.
Inputs, Outputs, and Tools & Techniques now appear as non prescriptive items in alphabetical order, covering various approaches and referenced across the Guide.

🌍 𝗣𝗠𝗕𝗢𝗞 𝟴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 (𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀), 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 (𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀), 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 (𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀) 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆.

In summary PMBOK 8th Edition, focuses on value, sustainability, AI, and quality integration. It is built on previous versions, but it's not a rollback. Instead, it clarifies and simplifies concepts to make them more actionable, with an emphasis on project success defined as value exceeding effort and expense.

Get PMBOK 8th Edition HERE

2. PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

This update was effective on November 17, 2025.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is a foundational document that guides the behavior and decision-making of project management professionals worldwide. As the profession evolves in response to technological, social, and regulatory changes, so too must its ethical standards. On 17 November 2025, PMI released a significant update to its Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, marking the most comprehensive revision in over a decade.

Overview of the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

The PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is designed to instill confidence in the project management profession by articulating the ethical expectations for PMI members, certification holders, applicants, and volunteers. The Code is structured around four core values—Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, and Honesty—which serve as the foundation for both aspirational and mandatory standards of conduct. These standards are intended to guide practitioners in making ethical decisions, particularly in complex or ambiguous situations where legal requirements may be insufficient.

The 2025 update reflects PMI’s commitment to ensuring that its ethical framework remains relevant and effective in addressing contemporary challenges. The revision process involved extensive consultation with global stakeholders, benchmarking against emerging trends, and a deliberate effort to provide clearer, more actionable guidance for real-world application.

Here’s a summary of the recent PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct updates:

🔑 Core Values (Unchanged but Reframed)

Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, Honesty remain the foundation.
Language has been modernized to emphasize inclusivity, global applicability, and clarity in expectations.

📌 Key Updates

Expanded Guidance on Responsibility
- Stronger emphasis on sustainability, social impact, and accountability for project outcomes.
- Explicit call to consider long‑term effects on communities and the environment.
Respect Modernized
- Clearer expectations around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
- Guidance on avoiding bias and fostering psychological safety in teams.
Fairness Strengthened
- More detail on conflicts of interest, transparency in decision‑making, and equitable treatment of stakeholders.
- Explicit prohibition of favoritism and misuse of authority.
Honesty Clarified
- Reinforced obligation to provide accurate information and avoid misleading statements.
- New emphasis on truthfulness in digital communication and AI‑assisted work.

📖 Structural Changes

Simplified format: shorter, more direct statements for easier application.
Practical examples added to illustrate ethical dilemmas in modern project contexts (remote work, digital tools, AI).
Updated terminology to align with PMI’s global standards and evolving workplace norms.

💡 Expert Commentary

Why the changes?
- To reflect shifts in project environments: globalization, digital transformation, and DEI priorities.
- To ensure project managers are equipped to handle ethical challenges in hybrid and tech‑driven settings.
Implications:
- Greater accountability for social and environmental impact.
- Clearer guardrails for fairness and transparency in complex stakeholder landscapes.
- Reinforced trust in project management as a profession.

👉 In short: PMI kept the four values intact but sharpened them for today’s realities—adding sustainability, DEI, digital integrity, and practical examples to make the Code more actionable.

Access 'PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct' HERE

3. PMI Announces Major Update to PMP® Exam, Launching July 2026

Watch video summary HERE

The Project Management Institute (PMI) has revealed that a new Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam is scheduled to launch globally in July 2026. This update is designed to keep pace with changing times and reflects the future of the profession. The new PMP exam will be a reimagined version built around real-world impact and value, with a sharper focus on the skills and mindsets that drive meaningful results in today’s world. PMI maintains its continued promise to uphold the PMP as the global gold standard for the project profession.

Key Changes Coming to the PMP Exam

The updated exam, which aligns with the new PMP Certification Exam Content Outline (2026), features significant adjustments to content, domain weighting, and the overall exam experience.

Content and Focus Areas

The revised content will add topics such as AI, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, the exam will shift its focus more heavily toward outcomes and value.

Rebalanced Domains

To better balance leadership, technical, and strategic skills, the exam weighting across the three domains will be restructured:

Domain Current Weighting New Weighting (2026)

People	42%	33%
Process	50%	41%
Business Environment	8%	26%

Approach and Experience

The new PMP exam will cover predictive and agile methods, as well as hybrid applications, placing a greater emphasis on adaptive, real-world project dynamics.

In terms of testing logistics, the exam will consist of 185 questions and the duration will be 240 minutes. The format will be more interactive and scenario-based, reflecting real project environments.

Eligibility Updates

The eligibility requirements are being aligned globally across degrees, apprenticeships, and training programs. While the experience requirement remains 3–5 years, the eligibility period is being extended to 10 years.

Timeline and Preparation Options

Candidates currently preparing for the certification have clear paths to follow, depending on when they plan to take the test.

Date Event Details

15 December 2025	Pilot registration opens	Early access sign-up for interested candidates.
5–30 January 2026	Pilot exam window	Participants can take the new exam early and share feedback.
April 2026	Updated learning resources available	Includes on-demand prep, practice exams, PMI Study Hall®, and new instructor-led courses.
July 2026	New PMP exam available globally	Full rollout of the updated exam worldwide.

If you are currently preparing for the PMP, the core principles and approaches remain the same, and you can continue studying. You have the option to take the current exam any time until July 2026 (the exact cutoff date is yet to be confirmed). Candidates who wish to take the current version must pay for and take the test by July 2026.

If you wish to take the new exam, the updated PMP resources will be available starting in April 2026.

Participate in the PMP Pilot Program

PMI will run a limited pilot program in January 2026 for candidates interested in shaping the future of the exam. Pilot exams will run from 5–30 January 2026, with registration opening on 15 December 2025.

The pilot program details include:

It will be available in English only.
It must be administered in person at Pearson VUE test centers.
Participants will receive a 20% rebate for taking part.
Those who do not pass the pilot exam will receive a free exam retake when the new version officially launches in July 2026.

Note: You might find this of value:
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: PMBOK 8th Edition 2025

Watch video HERE

These twelve principles are defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI) within the “Standard for Project Management” which is included as part of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) 7th Edition

1. Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward

2. Create a Collaborative Project Team Environment

3. Effectively Engage with Stakeholders

4. Focus on Value

5. Recognize, Evaluate, and Respond to System Interactions

6. Demonstrate Leadership Behaviors

7. Tailor Based on Context

8. Build Quality into Processes and Deliverables

9. Navigate Complexity

10. Optimize Risk Responses

11. Embrace Adaptability and Resiliency

12. Enable Change to Achieve the Envisioned Future State

1. Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward

Stewards act responsibly to carry out activities with integrity, care, and trustworthiness while maintaining compliance with internal and external guidelines. They demonstrate a broad commitment to financial, social, and environmental impacts of the projects they support.

- Stewardship encompasses responsibilities within and external to the organization.

- Stewardship includes:

Integrity,
Care,
Trustworthiness, and
Compliance.

- A holistic view of stewardship considers financial, social, technical, and sustainable environmental awareness.

2. Create a Collaborative Project Team Environment

Project teams are made up of individuals who wield diverse skills, knowledge, and experience. Project teams that work collaboratively can accomplish a shared objective more effectively and efficiently than individuals working on their own.

- Projects are delivered by project teams.

- Project teams work within organizational and professional cultures and guidelines, often establishing their own "local" culture.

- A collaborative project team environment facilitates:

Alignment with Other organizational cultures and guidelines,
Individual and team learning and development, and
Optimal contributions to deliver desired outcomes.

3. Effectively Engage with Stakeholders

Engage stakeholders proactively and to the degree needed to contribute to project success and customer satisfaction.

- Stakeholders influence projects, performance, and outcomes.

- Project teams serve other stakeholders by engaging with them.

- Stakeholder engagement proactively advances value delivery.

4. Focus on Value

Continually evaluate and adjust project alignment to business objectives and intended benefits and value.

- Value is the ultimate indicator of project success.

- Value can be realized throughout the project, at the end of the project, or after the project is complete.

- Value, and the benefits that contribute to value, can be defined in quantitative and/or qualitative terms.

- A focus on outcomes allows project teams to support the intended benefits that lead to value creation.

- Project teams evaluate progress and adapt to maximize the expected value.

5. Recognize, Evaluate, and Respond to System Interactions

Recognize, evaluate, and respond to the dynamic circumstances within and surrounding the project in a holistic way to positively affect project performance.

- A project is a system of interdependent and interacting domains of activity.

- Systems thinking entails taking a holistic view of how project parts interact with each Other and with external systems.

- Systems are constantly changing, requiring consistent attention to internal and external conditions.

- Being responsive to system interactions allows project teams to leverage positive outcomes.

6. Demonstrate Leadership Behaviors

Demonstrate and adapt leadership behaviors to support individual and team needs.

- Effective leadership promotes project success and contributes to positive project outcomes.

- Any project team member can demonstrate leadership behaviors.

- Leadership is different than authority.

- Effective leaders adapt their style to the situation.

- Effective leaders recognize differences in motivation among project team members.

- Leaders demonstrate desired behavior in areas of honesty, integrity, and ethical conduct.

7. Tailor Based on Context

Design the project development approach based on the context of the project, its objectives, stakeholders, governance, and the environment using "just enough" process to achieve the desired outcome while maximizing value, managing cost, and enhancing speed.

- Each project is unique.

- Project success is based on adapting to the unique context of the project to determine the most appropriate methods of producing the desired outcomes.

- Tailoring the approach is iterative, and therefore is a continuous process throughout the project.

8. Build Quality into Processes and Deliverable

Maintain a focus on quality that produces deliverables that meet project objectives and align to the needs, uses, and acceptance requirements set forth by relevant stakeholders.

- Project quality entails satisfying stakeholders' expectations and fulfilling project and product requirements.

- Quality focuses on meeting acceptance criteria for deliverables.

- Project quality entails ensuring project processes are appropriate and as effective as possible.

9. Navigate Complexity

Continually evaluate and navigate project complexity so that approaches and plans enable the project team to successfully navigate the project life cycle.

- Complexity is the result of human behavior, system interactions, uncertainty, and ambiguity.

- Complexity can emerge at any point during the project.

- Complexity can be introduced by events or conditions that affect value, scope, communications, stakeholders, risk, and technological innovation.

- Project teams can stay vigilant in identifying elements of complexity and use a variety of methods to reduce the amount or impact of complexity.

10. Optimize Risk Responses

Continually evaluate exposure to risk, both opportunities and threats, to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts to the project and its outcomes.

- Individual and overall risks can impact projects.

- Risks can be positive (opportunities) or negative (threats).

- Risks are addressed continually throughout the project

- An organization's risk attitude, appetite, and threshold influence how risk is addressed.

- Risk responses should be:

Appropriate for the significance of the risk,
Cost effective,
Realistic within the project context,
Agreed to by relevant stakeholders, and
Owned by a responsible person.

11. Embrace Adaptability and Resiliency

Build adaptability and resiliency into the organizations and project teams approaches to help the project accommodate change, recover from setbacks, and advance the work of the project.

- Adaptability is the ability to respond to changing conditions.

- Resiliency is the ability to absorb impacts and to recover quickly from a setback or failure.

- A focus on outcomes rather than outputs facilitates adaptability

12. Enable Change to Achieve the Envisioned Future State

Prepare those impacted for the adoption and sustainment of new and different behaviors and processes required for the transition from the current state to the intended future state created by the project outcomes.

- A structured approach to change helps individuals, groups, and the organization transition from the current state to a future desired state.

- Change can originate from internal influences or external sources.

- Enabling change can be challenging as not all stakeholders embrace change.

- Attempting too much change in a short time can lead to change fatigue and/or resistance.

- Stakeholder engagement and motivational approaches assist in change adoption.

Note: You may find this product of value:
PMP Prep Pack